The Nike shoe company

AS known to all, international relations between commercial organizations is one of today’s strongest trends in business industries. The truth is that every single organization, whether small or large scale, is considerably involved in reaching the goal of being globally known through international trade. Just what is meant by the terms international trade, international relations, and international strategy; and how are they particularly related to each other?   These questions shall be given answer through the discussion that follows through. Business entrepreneurs around the world all have a common goal, to influence a larger scale of market who would appreciate their products and services thus giving them the opportunity of increasing their revenues and strengthening their chances of increasing their profitable gains as well. This is the primary reason why it is an essential for entrepreneurs of the present-day business organizations to discuss to their employees the different aspects of international relations that particularly affects the major operations of the business that equips it with the necessary strength that it needs for further organizational growth in the future. The possibilities of both increasing the competence of the business in the field and making the aims of progress more efficient in becoming factual and practical for the organization to take. This is perfectly the same with the situational goals of Nike with regards their global relations. THE Company: A Brief Description Nike Shoe Company, Nike inclusive is a company that basically indulges in the designing, developing and international marketing of quality apparel, equipment, footwear, and accessory products. The company started trading actively in sportswear back in the year 1999. The footwear is precisely designed and manufactured for athletic use. A large portion of Nike's products is however used for leisure and casual purposes. Nike inclusive operates it own subsidiaries for manufacturing and the distribution of sports apparel. The main competitors of this company are Adidas, Reebok among others. Describe the market structure within which the company operates and the pricing strategies adopted by the company Nike operate in a very competitive field of business. For some reasons, the said industry of sport shoe production and distribution has already weakened through the years of operation. For this reason, companies hosting the said situation actually tried to access different procedures of marketing their products and their services to the society. The seasoned process of the appreciation that consumers have towards the said products actually makes it possible for the production activities of the said materials to fluctuate. (Porter 1985) The selling price adopted by a company for its products directly affects the profitability and eventually the viability of the company. This area usually receives a lot of attention from Nike's management. To ensure the viability of the company products in the market and rise above its competitors, Nike uses the following pricing strategies, (Thompson, and Strickland, 2001). Setting rather than managing prices; The brand manager adopts a reactive approach in making pricing decisions rather than a proactive approach. This means that the setting of prices at Nike inclusive depends on the prices adopted by competitors and the sales figures that Nike has. Avoidance of customer value when pricing; It is not always accurate to predict the value that a customer has towards a given product. It is also not possible to quantify the value that the products give to customers. For this reason, Nike avoids the use of customer value when making pricing decisions. Although consumers may not buy a product whose price is higher than the satisfaction derived from the product , they will at all times purchase a product that has a price lower than its perceived satisfaction. By avoiding this approach, Nike keeps off under pricing its products in order to maintain the brand equity and customer loyalty, (Porter, 1985). Establishing customer value for products; the brand managers at Nike inclusive rigorously engage in attempts to know the value that customers have for their brands. This is undertaken by carrying out detailed interviews with the customers on Nike's brands. Through this process, the organization is able to comprehend better with the needs and the demands of the people, their clients, who are the primary target of the changes that the organization particularly want to work on. The precise information obtained is used by brand managers to establish a basis for the pricing decisions in the company. Such information is reliable in developing an effective pricing strategy that is proactive. (McGahan, 2004). The changing Global Economy Nike is keen on the changing global economy and has been seeking competitive advantage over its rivals. Several changes have taken place in the shoe industry and this has been greatly beneficial to the industry. These changes are; (Hunger, and Wheelen, 2003). Rapid growth in footwear production Manufacturers today must have flexible designs and high output. There is a massive increase in shoe designs increasing competition and volatility in the market. High innovation and quality designs are a must for success. . Producers have to be protective of their information and manufacturing technology. One of the main reasons for the success in seeking competitive advantage in the changing global economy is flexibility. Nike has at all times remained flexible in the changing market by subcontracting to international countries that have low cost of labor. Secondly, Nike highly focuses on differentiating of its products. Rather than dealing in one line of a product, the company has diversified and differentiated the products it offers to the market. For instance, Nike began as small company that distributes sport shoes, however, as time passed, the developments began to grow thus giving the company a better reputation in the industry. Today, Nike is known in the industry as it produces and sells a variety of products ranging from equipment, clothing all the way to even offering accessories. This differentiation has enabled Nike to successfully obtain and gain loyalty from buyers on its brand. Certainly, register an increase in sales command a fine price for all the company products. Conclusion From the SWOT analysis featured within this paper, the different elements needed to be considered by Nike to face the global business competition has been carefully presented (Bakan, 2004, 66). From the said assessments, it could be observed that there is huge attention needed to be placed on the situation of the organization when it comes to cost alignment of both expenses as a balancing matter with that of the revenues gained by the company in an annual procedure. (Egan, 1998, 11) Aside from financing, the process of marketing and product shifting should also be given clear attention as it also gives a fine description and certainty with regards the situation that the organization would likely face within the global picture of the international trade. The issue of globalization offers both threats and the opportunities to the current human generation. Undeniably, the said progression of industrialization that affects the entire global operations of the trading industries bring an impact on how local business organizations work towards the dreams and goals that they have particularly set for themselves to reach (Goldman, 1999, 10). The consequences through in being involved in the said revolution of business systems in the society today involves the adjustments that organizations must take risk of to be able to jump into the bandwagon of international progress. True, international business industries offer a larger market. The involvement of Internet and modern communication applications today within the systems of business connections worldwide has even made the said international commercial invasion a faster process of progress for entrepreneurial beginners in the said field. Understandably, to be able to gain progress, the risks and the opportunities should be grabbed by each individual business organization for the sake of part taking in the process of globalization of industries today. References Joel Bakan (2004). The Corporation: The Pathological Pursuit of Profit and Power. London: Constable. Egan, Timothy.(1998). â€Å"The swoon of the swoosh†. New York Times Magazine. J. B. Strasser. (2003). Swoosh: Unauthorized Story of Nike and the Men Who Played There, The (Paperback). Collins Publishers. Robert Goldman. (1999). Nike Culture: The Sign of the Swoosh (Cultural Icons series). Sage Publications. Grant, R.M. (2005) Contemporary Strategy Analysis. Blackwell Publishing Ltd., Oxford (U.K.) Hunger, J. and Wheelen, T (2003) Essentials of Strategic Management. New Jersey: Pearson Education Inc. McGahan, A. (2004) How Industries Evolve – Principles for Achieving and Sustaining Superior Performance. Harvard Business School Press, Boston. Porter, M.E. (1985) Competitive Advantage. The Free Press: New York. Thompson, A. and Strickland, J (2001) Crafting and Implementing Strategy. Irwin McGraw-Hill.

Opening case: Pinterest Essay

1. Knowledge: Do you consider Pinterest a form of disruptive or sustaining technology? Disruptive technology is a new way of doing something that initially does not meet the needs of existing customers. This type of technology tends to open new markets and destroy old ones. While, a sustaining technology produces an improved product that customers are eager to buy. This technology provides better, faster and cheaper products on established markets. I think that Pinterest is a sustaining technology. Indeed, it’s a social network like Facebook or twitter but the system it’s not the same so this website improved the market of the social media. 2. Comprehension: Categorize Pinterest as an example of Web 1.0 (e-business) or Web 2.0 (Business 2.0) The Web 1.0 is a term to refer to the World Wide Web during the first few years of existence between 1991 and 2003. The e-business is ecommerce with all activities related to internal and external nosiness operations. During the Web 1.0 the first type of e-business appears. The Web 2.0 is the next generation of Internet; it’s a set of economic, social and technology trends. This platform is characterized by new qualities like collaboration, sharing and free. This new generation encourages customers to share and create communities. I think that clearly Pinterest is an example of Web 2.0. This website is all about creating a community and connect people together through the things that they find interesting. As a user you can create your own â€Å"interest boards†. Like that you can show and share with your friends what is important for you. Plus, like in twitter people can follow other. In addition to that Pinterest was created in 2010 after the end of the Web 1.0 in 200 3. 3. Application: Describe the e-business model and revenue model for Pinterest. There are several types of e-business model, and I think that the model of the company is the C2C. The C2Cmodel offers services to assist consumers interacting with each other over the Internet. Pinterest is a social network based on visual communication. All the users can really interact with others, the can talk bout a brand or a product. The revenue model is based on advertising fees that generate revenue to the company. Pinterest uses images directly linked to the retailers website and uses banner ads too. Pinterest allows retailers to put adds on the website in exchange of money. 4. Analysis: What is open source software and how could Pinterest take advantage of it? Open source software is software with a source code available free. That’s means that any third party doesn’t have to pay fees to review or modify it. The Web 2.0 counts on that. Users don’t have to pay fees to enter on the website. They can visually communicate without paying anything. Pinterest take advantage of it because people want to share and communicate about their passion, interest of favorite brands. But people will to do that is they had to pay for it. So Pinterest give to them a platform to express them. They are able to drive traffic because it’s free and open source. 5. Synthesis: Create a plan for how a start-up company could take advantage of Web 3.0 and generate the idea for the next great website that is similar to Pinterest. The web 3.0 is the future generation of the web, the Internet more â€Å"intelligent†. The future computer will can understand and analyze relationship. Plus, they will be able to analyze a request like â€Å"I want to go to the theater and go after eat Japanese! What do you suggest? A start-up can take advantage of this new web through several aspects: Integration of legacy: use current devices as smartphones, laptops, and so on, as credit cards, tickets and reservation tools. Intelligent applications: the use of  agents, machine learning and semantic web concepts to complete intelligent tasks for users. Open ID: the provision of an online identity that can be easily carried to a variety of devices (cell phones†¦) allowing for easy authentication across different websites. Open technologies: the design of website and other software so they can be easily integrated and work together. A worldwide database: the ability for databases to be distributed and accessed from ev erywhere. An idea that would be close to Pinterest laying on the web 3.0 advantages would be, that connects all the news in the world in one website. Launch a website that gathers every information on a dedicated subject. The user will type a specific request on the research toolbar of the website, and thanks to the â€Å"semantic analysis† the website will give access to the user to an amazing databases. In additions to that, the information will be rank by importance and pertinence for the user. 6. Evaluation: Evaluate the challenges facing Pinterest and identify ways the company can prepare to face these issues. The Pinterest’ s site is about pining lot of photos and images. Users can go against the law if they pin a picture with a copyright or not their. Pinterest can be the victim of a lot trails against the, accusing them that they violate the copyright. To face this issue Pinterest protects it self by completing the indemnity clause that all users have to sign. By putting images on their â€Å"interest boards â€Å" people can blame Pinterest if they are violating copyright infringement.

Diets Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Diets - Essay Example People with diseases such as diabetes need to refrain from eating a lot of carbohydrates. Rather, they should eat more whole grain, eat more poultry and fish and not red meat as well as reduce the amount of sugar they take in their body. They should refrain from eating or drinking food or drinks containing high levels of sodium (Chatham, 2012). Discuss Domino Effect (this is what I call this – this term is not in the text). How will not taking any measures versus taking action discussed for those items you discuss affect your health in the long term. Eating of fatty foods, less fruits and vegetables as well as increased amount of carbohydrates and sugar will lead to an increase in the calories in the body. It will also change the insulin and glucose level in the body leading to diabetes. This unhealthy eating and diet combined with the lack of exercise with increase fat in the blood vessels preventing the heart from pumping blood and this leads to cardiovascular diseases hence causing short life time. The domino effects comes in where the unhealthy eating habits and lack of exercise cause the body not to function properly and the systems of the body like the cardiovascular system start crashing. If however the diet mentioned above is maintained combined with regular exercises, then long life is bound to be

Finding a paper for my final project Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Finding a paper for my final project - Essay Example Consequently, organizations have a chance of minimizing their IT based capital expenditures. Cloud computing services ensure that large and small organizations have the potential of attaining optimum IT based functionalities. These occur as the organizations face stiff competition and different government regulations on data-storage needs and computing. However, market factors and the management of the organizations may hinder or influence the engagement of the organizations in the cloud computing strategies. Such contributes in the reduction of the ability of organizations to engage in IT related infrastructure for business growth and improvement on competitive strength. Another key issue is the technical ability of the organization, which determines the potential of the organization to handle its cloud computing. This entails information sharing, cost savings, in-house degradation performance and the other associated performance over the in-house. Such depicts the trust level for the deployment of the effective cloud computing infrastructure, which makes the organization have the potential of achieving its success in the competitive business

Role Of Satirical TV Shows In People's Enhancing Political Awareness Essay - 7

Role Of Satirical TV Shows In People's Enhancing Political Awareness - Essay Example Satirical television shows help the audience to be more conscious of the news and politics by using comedies to expose the misconduct of politicians. Satirical TV shows provide are designed and comedies but has a rich content that exposes the truth of the political arena. First, the TV shows provide disclosure of hidden political agendas that the public are least aware of. The designers of Satirical TV shows use an exciting approach to tell the public of the mischief of politicians. These programs provide a detailed exposure of the information that covers the effects of the politics on the society and the specific country or even particular groups in the society. They cover a wide range of misbehavior patterns among the politicians and present them in a comical manner. Providing this information to the public allows people to learn about the behavior of their political leaders and this attracts their attention to be wary and more conscious of political behavior. In addition, the satirical TV shows make a direct attack on the political leaders, hence sensitizing them on the need to change certain negative behaviors. Most of the satirical TV shows expose specific political characters who have misbehaved and ridicule them. Actually, these shows mock negative political actions and sensitize the victims to change their behavior. As politicians are sensitive of their public image and the way these shows portray them to the society, they fear mockery and would rather come off clean. When these programs expose them to the public, they push them to change in an effort to reconstruct their political behavior. On this note, satirical TV shows provide the public with the real political images of their leaders and give the public the opportunity to push their leaders to change. In brief, satirical TV programs attract the people to contribute to changing the political arena.

East Asia Past and Present Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

East Asia Past and Present - Essay Example The membership has expanded to ten countries that include Laos, Burma, Cambodia, Brunei and Vietnam. East Asia had experienced decades of internal conflicts and economic depression, but the formation of ASEAN enabled sub-regional cooperation and trade liberalization (Borthwick 71). The main three pillars include economic growth and cooperation, social progress, and political-security. The model of security and stability in the region attained high success and ASEAN started playing a major security role in even beyond Southeast Asia. The security matters in Southeast Asian countries encompass various political, economic, social, cultural and military dimensions and ASEAN has utilized regional cooperation in order to further peaceful external environment and allow the member states to concentrate on their domestic development priorities (Borthwick 29). ASEAN was a focus of rivalry and competition between the US and Soviet Union, but ASEAN preferred regional solutions by declaring the r egion as a Zone of Peace, Freedom and Neutrality in 1995 (Holcombe 241). ASEAN rise to greater importance in East Asia affairs has been facilitated by the ASEAN Free Trade Area that aims at enhancing the competitive advantage of local manufacturing. The region has signed free trade agreements with China, Japan, Australia and India that aim boosting economic growth in the community. The free trade agreements have led to consistent growth in member states GDP by between 4 percent to 7 percent since the end of Cold War. The region has benefited from technology transfer and e-commerce evolution since member states like Malaysia and Singapore account for more than 50 percent of e-commerce transactions in the entire region (Borthwick 81). The economic community is committed to equitable economic development and integration with the global economy as demonstrated by the consistent reduction in import duties (Borthwick 112). ASEAN member states

Surveillance and Democracy Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Surveillance and Democracy - Essay Example As seen in s8(2) there has been built into the statute several exceptions which leaves the law somewhat open to interpretation. Firstly, as held in Malone v UK (1984) 7 EHRR 14, the right to respect for private and family life, home and correspondence is not to be infringed upon unless there is statute to the contrary to which the citizens are aware. As stated in Taylor (2002) the EU court has been especially stringent with regard to personal communications (see Kopp v Switzerland (1999) 27 EHRR 91). In this case, the court held that state infringement upon private communications of the citizens displayed a serious breach against their right to a private life. The EU Convention of Human Rights has maintained that if there is to be a breach of citizen's right to private life it must be for a specific legal purpose, that is to say supported by legal statute. The last area to consider within the framework of the EU Convention of Human Rights is to ascertain the balance of individual citizens' rights against that of the greater good. In short, according to Taylor (2002) this balance requires a test of proportions, essentially measuring the pros and cons. In short, it is imperative that the state within the legal framework on a case by case basis weigh the facts and determine if the great good will outweigh the individual infringement upon an individual citizen. As stated previous the EU as found in the Human Rights Act and as discussed previous has upheld that any infringement must be legitimized by state statute. This was upheld with regard to the tapping of personal phones in the UK. In Malone v Metropolitan Police Commissioner No.2 [1979] 2 WLR 700 the court held that the police had used a wiretap to obtain information regarding the defendant's criminal activity. As the UK had no statute on the books legitimizing the wiretap and therefore infringement on the defendant's right to privacy with respect to personal communications the conviction was overturned upon appeal to the EU. Even though there had been prior precedent for wiretapping as established by the government without a binding legal framework, the EU found the legitimate exception rule had not been met. In an attempt to reactivity the lack of statute the UK passed the Interception of Communications Act 1985. However this act provide ineffective in providing the legal framework necessary to obtain little more than wiretaps for public telephones. In case and after case specific modes of communication were found to be exceptions to this law (i.e. cordless telephones, private networks etc). The statute was tested even further when the police used a listening device to obtain a confession and eventual conviction of a heroine smuggler. On appeal within the UK in (R v Khan [1996] 3 WLR 162, the court found that even if the confession were to be determined later to be in breach of s(8) the court could not justify overturning the verdict. The defendant did appeal to the EU and the court found t

Some exam questions I need explained Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 1

Some exam questions I need explained - Essay Example PEST (Political, Economical, Socio-cultural, Technological factors) analysis is an important strategic planning tool. It proves to be a useful stepping stone for the analysis of external factors for an organization. It is also useful to analyze the feasibility of a certain project with reference to different external factors that might affect its execution. This model covers a broader aspect of the prevailing environmental factors than SWOT analysis. Porter’s 5 Forces: This model was developed by Michael E. Porter in 1980. He formulated the model on the basis of 5 competitive forces that tend to determine the nature of every industry. Organization can evaluate the level of competition, profitability and acceptance rate of an industry with the help of these forces; threat of new competitors, bargaining power of the suppliers, rate of rivalry in the industry, bargaining power of customers, threat of substitutes. Value Chain Analysis: It is considered to be a systematic approach; involves a sequence of functions and actions that build value for the organization. Value chain analysis plays a major role in the development of competitive advantage in the market. It equals to the cumulative value that is provided by the organization. Experience Curve Effect: This concept was formulated in 1966 by Bruce Henderson. Experience is considered to be an asset for any organization. The concept promotes the increment of this asset in different forms in the organization, for example, hiring of experienced resources, collaboration with other companies etc. According to the experience curve effect; if a company gains greater experience in a specific field or production process then 25 to 30 % of the costs can be decreased. It can help the organization to evaluate the success rate of the company and increase revenues. BCG (Boston Consulting Group) Matrix: is a portfolio management model. It categorizes the products of the organization

Dissent about nuclear safety Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Dissent about nuclear safety - Case Study Example The performance of the heat exchangers is substandard, but the loss of one can lead to heat exchange problems in future. Alison is well aware of this fact and also of another reality that continued operation of both heat exchangers can cost her company millions of dollars. But, going along with the JCO means that Alison does something which does not maximize utility in an even manner and which is also worthy of punishment because problems are anticipated despite good intentions to save the company. When the time to vote arrives, Alison should not vote in favour of the JCO for the same reasons expressed already in this discussion. It would not be wrong for her to cast a dissenting vote even if future calculations show that using a single heat exchanger does not cause any heat exchange problems for two reasons. First, outcomes of an act matter the most and second, intellectual pleasure which would result from safe outcomes supersedes physical pleasure which members of PNSRC would exper ience from cost

Compare and Contrast Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 1

Compare and Contrast - Essay Example According to him, in racism, the oppressing people destroy the cultural values of the people (Fanon 33). To note, culture is an aspect showing one’s racial identity. In a sense, Fanon thinks that the main effect of racism is the debasement of one’s culture. Freire on the other hand, uses the term oppressed to refer to people who can easily be corrupted due to poor education. In a sense, he is concerned with intellectually oppressed people. Education is the key to stop this kind of oppression for him. If an individual is educated, he or she could liberate himself or herself out of the oppressive environment. He believes that education accords the oppressed an opportunity to regain honor and respect in the community which he or she belongs to (Freire 4). Also, Freire contends that through education, the oppressed could achieve a higher social status. For Freire, education opens the eyes of the oppressed to the truth and widens his or her horizons of opportunity in the soc iety. Second, Fanon and Freire’s literary works are both aimed at liberating the oppressed. In both of them, freedom is to be associated with the liberty to achieve the highest potential of human beings without any hindrances. For Fanon, the oppressed could be liberated through the grant of basic rights.

Organization Behavior Essay Example for Free

Organization Behavior Essay âž ¢ Anne Mulcahy at the age of 23 she was the director of human resources, head of the Xerox âž ¢ She spent her first 16 years companys fledging desktop computer business, and chief in sales, then eight years in an assortment of management of staff to Xeroxs CEO. âž ¢ She never aspired to run Xerox nor she was groomed to be CEO. In 2001 she became the CEO of Xerox. âž ¢ She accepted the position when the company was in horrible financial shape. It had $17.1 billion in debt and only $154 million in cash. It was about to begin seven straight quarters of losses. âž ¢ Mulcahy felt a deep loyalty to the company. She felt an obligation to do everything in her power to save Xerox. Duty and loyalty compelled her to take a job that nobody else really wanted, despite the fact that she had zero preparation. âž ¢ She didnt know financial analysis. She had no MBA and her undergraduate degree was in English/journalism. So she asked the companys director of corporate finance to give her a cram course in Balance Sheet 101. He helped her to understand debt structure, inventory trends, and the impact of taxes and currency rates. âž ¢ This allowed her to see what would generate cash and how each of her decisions would affect the balance sheet. Mulcahy says now that her lack of training had its advantages. She had no preconceived notions, no time to develop bad habits. âž ¢ She appealed to employees with missionary zeal, in videos and in person to save each dollar as if it were your own. In 2002, for instance, she gave all employees their birthdays an off. The gentle pressure was vintage Mulcahy: Work hard, measure the results, tell the truth, and be brutally honest. âž ¢ After less than two years as CEO, Mulcahy has made startling progress in turning Xerox around. Employees appreciated her truthful and straightforward style. They also liked the fact that she was willing to work shoulder to shoulder with subordinates âž ¢ She was working hard, people felt obligated to work harder too. But Mulcahy is no softy. Shes smart, energetic, tough but passionate. âž ¢ She showed the ability to make hard decisions. For instance, she slashed costs in part by cutting Xeroxs workforce by 30 percent and she shut down desktop division. She oversaw the streamlining of production, new investment in research and development, and restructured the sales force so vague lines of authority became clear. She met with bankers and customers. âž ¢ In 2003, Xerox had had four straight quarters of operating profits. The companys stock was up to $11 a share. And while Xeroxs future was still far from secure, at least it was beginning to look like the company would have future. 1. How did Anne Mulcahy create trust with employees after becoming CEO? âž ¢ We see that Anne Mulcahy is the ultimate loyal employee in Xerox. She represented herself as a Savior who would deliver them from the storm though she didn’t have any vision nor she was trained but she was determined in doing her task. Duty and loyalty compelled her to take a job that nobody else really wanted. âž ¢ Though she didn’t have any knowledge in financial aspects she learned in the short span of time and took initiative to cut costs by using strategies like reducing the work force, which was a smart move of cutting cost, and she restructured sales force, etc. âž ¢ She appealed to employees with missionary zeal, in videos and in person to save each dollar as if it were your own† âž ¢ She believed in these words that it is an era to work hard, measure the results, tell the truth, and be brutally honest. âž ¢ That is how employees, appreciated her truthful and straightforward style. They also liked the fact that she was willing to work shoulder to shoulder with subordinates 2.Did Mulcahy have a vision for Xerox? Explain. Anne Mulcahy had no vision or any aspiration to run Xerox. We can see this as initially when the Xeroxs board chose her as CEO of Xerox. She was neither groomed nor aspired for this position. But she accepted the position with a mixed feeling. She took the position when the company was dooming. She had a deep loyalty to the company and she realized her responsibility to save Xerox although she was not prepared. But she had a determination to save Xerox. 3. What qualities do you think helped Mulcahy to affect the turnaround at Xerox? âž ¢ Charismatic quality: She has an inborn quality to stand in any kind of situation that is a special quality of determination to serve her company. âž ¢ She also had inner qualities like self-confidence, Problem-solving ability. When she took the position of CEO the company was in horrible financial shape. A leader needs lots of self-confidence in such situation, which Anne Mulcahy had. âž ¢ She stood to save her company and sole the crisis. Mulcahy wasnt groomed for the CEO position is a true understatement. For instance, she didnt know financial analysis. She had no MBA and her undergraduate degree was in English/journalism. So she asked the companys director of corporate finance to give her a cram course in Balance Sheet 101. He helped her to understand debt structure, inventory trends, and the impact of taxes and currency rates. This allowed her to see what would generate cash and how each of her decisions would affect the balance sheet. Mulcahy says now that her lack of training had its advantages. She had no preconceived notions, no time to develop bad habits. âž ¢ Passionate: She was passionate in doing her work and also influenced others to follow her and she believed that employees should â€Å"Work hard, measure the results, tell the truth, and be brutally honest.† âž ¢ She also had other qualities like smartness, energetic, tough but passionate 4.What does this case say about leadership experience? Through this case we can see that Anne Mulcahy is a successful leader. Why a leader? Because she was a shepherd to her company leading her sheep’s. And Anne Mulcahy is said to be a leader as she lead her people to follow her. A Leader is an individual person who initiates and implements that is what Anne Mulcahy did. She can be called a Transformational leader as she implemented changes. For instance she slashed costs in part by cutting Xeroxs workforce by 30 percent and she shut down desktop division. She oversaw the streamlining of production, new investment in research and development, an restructured the sales force so vague lines of authority became clear. She met with bankers and customers. Most importantly, she traveled. She galvanized the troops visiting Xerox offices—sometimes hitting three cities a day—and inspiring employees. This is what matters as a leader to influence people to follow them. And she led her company from â€Å"rags to riches†

Marketing Segmentation Targeting And Positioning Marketing Essay

Marketing Segmentation Targeting And Positioning Marketing Essay Introduction In marketing segmentation, targeting and positioning of the product is necessary, it is also known as STP process. Segmentation helps the manager to identify which area they have to focus on according to geography, demographics, social or other factors. After segmentation targeting is done which requires the needs of target customers to be fulfilled. After segmentation and targeting the positioning comes which refers to the way the consumer have the image of the product. Segmentation, targeting and positioning go hand in hand for an organisation to achieve the desirables. Market segmentation is a process of grouping people together with similar needs or smaller segments who show similar buying pattern. Segmentation is done either for differentiating a product or to target a specific group of people to earn profit. It is a form of critical evaluation rather than a prescribed system or process. According to Kotler 2010 the requirements of effective segmentation must be: Measurable It depends upon the buying capacity of the consumer. Accessible For effective segmentation the product should be easily accessible and the needs of the consumer are fulfilled. Substantial There should be enough number of people to buy the product. Differentiable This market segment has made different segments and they act accordingly according to the market need. Actionable This depends on how the product attracts and serves the segments. When the focus is on segmented markets a company is allowed to use its resources more effectively and efficiently thereby increasing the chances of its success in the market. According to Kotler 2010 for the effective segmentation of Apple iPhone the buying capacity of the consumer is a little low due to laws of economics. An Apple iphone costs around  £299 which is a lot of money and people think a lot before buying it. The Apple iPhone is widely accessible to USA, UK and many European countries but Apple does not launch its iPhone in countries where they feel people wont be able to pay the price. According to (West Mace, 2007) Apple differentiates itself from its competitors through innovation. The iPhone offers unique features which cannot be imitated and offers the latest feature which attracts customers to buy the product. Blackberry on the other hand like iPhone has a low buying power due to the fact that it is regarded as a business phone but it has its own market in which it excels. Blackberry sells everywhere and in the business world there are enough people to buy the product. Blackberry is regarded as a business phone which differentiates it; apart from being a business phone Blackberry also differentiates itself by its unique Blackberry messenger service in which a person can send and receive instant text messages anywhere and in any part of the world without being charged. The Blackberry messenger service differentiates this phone from its competitors. Blackberry has attracted a lot of business personnel as the phone serves the purpose of being connected with the business anytime. Nokia is different from both Blackberry and the Apple iPhone it has high buying power because it has a phone for everyone may be rich or poor. Nokia has entered the markets of both Blackberry and Apple iPhone and is doing quite well. The Blackberry is competing with Nokia E series which is the business edition of Nokia and for the Apple iPhone it is the N series. Apart from these series there are other series as well which focuses on the different segments of the society. Nokia has its products in every segment and which is at a lower price than its competitors which help Nokia to differentiate itself. Nokia sells its products in every part of the world unlike the iPhone and Blackberry and at a lower price. This low price is achieved because of economies of scale, since it serves a large number of the population. Due to Nokia phones being cheap, reliable and long lasting than its competitors it attracts a lot of customer. Nokia offers similar features as offered by its counterparts . Nokia products are not always cheap it has a product range called the Vertu which offers the worlds most exclusives phones. According to (Dibb et. al. 2006) the advantages of segmentation of a market can be done by:- Understanding the customer This requires a careful study and research to understand the customer needs and wants. Therefore an organisation can focus on the key factors and put more emphasis on understanding the customer thereby improving brand loyalty. Understand the competitor This requires a study of the market to know who the main competition for an organisation is and which segment is been targeted. So that the organisation pays more emphasis on the product. Effective resource allocation After understanding the customer and the competitors an organisation is in a better position to utilize the company resources effectively. Strategic Marketing Planning Dividing the market into segments helps the marketers to develop special plans to gain the attention of the competitors. Market segmentation According to Dibb et. al. 2006 market can be segmented according to Demographic Variables Age Occupation Gender Family Size Race Family life cycle Ethnicity Religion Income Social Class Education Geographic Variables Population City Size Region Market Density Urban, Suburban, Climate rural Psychographic Variables Personality attributes Motives Lifestyles Behaviouristic Variables Volume usage End use Benefit expectations Brand loyalty Price sensitivity (Adapted from Dibb et. al. 2006 pp 228) Demographic Variables It is the characteristics of the population such as age, gender, race which help in knowing the needs and buying behaviour and can be recorded. These types of variables can be measured easily. It helps an organization to know what type of population they are going to target. According to Kotler 2010 by segmenting according to the age helps the companies to develop the product according to the needs and wants of that age group. Segmentation according to gender or income divides the market accordingly and it helps to understand what type of products a company has to deliver in order to achieve Geographic Variables The need of customers changes according to the population, region, and climate. The geographic variables play a very important role in the market segmentation because the needs of customer may be different for different customers. An organization can decide in which countries they would like to operate in or what kind of population they are going to target. Psychographic Variables The personality characteristics, motives and lifestyles are sometime used to segment the market. It can be used alone or mixed with any other type of market segment. It is useful when the competition is intense. The marketers may also segment according to the social classes of different people; this helps an organization to know who their customers is and what kind of products they would like to have. Behaviouristic Variables The market can also be segmented according to the consumer behaviour towards the product. It may depend upon brand loyalty or on the price of the product. According to Kotler 2010 a market can be segmented according to loyalty also. If the product has made an impact on the customer then the company has achieved what was required. Market segmentation of Apple iPhone The Apple iPhone is targeted for the people lying in the age group of 18 to 40 year olds because they are the ones who are interested in buying the technology. Mainly males rather than females are targeted for the iPhone because of the applications, games and features such as wireless internet which are generally used more by the male population as compared to the latter. The customers buying the Apple iPhone are usually students who belong to higher class as well as higher middle class as the phone is quite expensive they even involve early adopters and the early majority. The iPhone is launched and sold first mainly across USA, UK and some parts of Europe because they have the infrastructure ready for it and also because the competition in these countries is quiet intense. Apple iPhone has a strong brand image in the mind of the customer as Apple says its not a phone its an experience. The after sales service provided by Apple is very good which helps in creating brand loyalty amon g the customer. The price positioning strategy of the Apple iPhone 4 is premium strategy which means that the iPhone 4 is of very high quality and to get that quality the consumers have to pay a higher price. Market segmentation of Blackberry The blackberry is regarded as a business phone it is not targeted towards a particular age group but it is targeted towards the business segment consisting of business professionals. There is no social class for the blackberry because it targets the whole business segment. The phone offers business features like access to e mail wireless internet and many other but the most remarkable feature it has is the blackberry messenger by which a person can send and receive text anywhere, anytime in the world free of charge. This is the most unique feature of the blackberry phone it gets connected to any blackberry phone in the world through a pin number which is different for every blackberry phone. Once the connection is set a business personnel can send and receive texts which is very helpful a person can receive important messages delivered to him on the go. Market segmentation of Nokia Nokia on the other hand has gained entry into all the segments it has something for everyone. Nokia has customers of all age group demographically it targets younger age groups who want the latest features at an affordable price. There is no social class involved for Nokia as it has a phone for every social class. The people buying Nokia phones can be student, business professionals.Nokia through high production has been able to reduce the cost of it phones which helps it to capture a large market. Nokia has a product for every customer in every bracket. The E- Series of Nokia is designed for the business class, the N series is for the teenagers and has normal phones for other people as well. Nokia has developed a phone for the highly social class known as the Vertu which is an exclusive for the higher class. Nokia has diversified with the range of products it has in the market. Nokia has different models and they fall in different price brackets according to the features they provi de. Nokia has made its brand image as a reliable and value for money kind of phones. CONCLUSION According to the segmentation techniques utilised by Apple iPhone, Blackberry and Nokia it is evident that Apple iPhone segments itself from Blackberry and Nokia by innovation, Blackberry segments itself from others with its Blackberry messenger service and Nokia segments itself from others through reliable and value for money phones. POSITIONING OF iPhone 4 According to Kotler 2010 positioning can be defined as the perspective of a consumer mind on what he thinks about the brand. According to Dibb et. al. 2007 it is the image that a consumer perceives about the product. The position of Apple iPhone 4 in peoples mind is quite high it is a premium product having very high involvement of research and development and is targeted towards people who are rich, having a good lifestyle. It is a premium product having a high price and having exclusive features which other mobile phone manufacturers dont have. There is a price for this exclusivity because the way Apple has made an image of the iPhone 4 is remarkable the punch line for iPhone 4 is This changes everything.Again. which means that the iPhone 4 has changed the way we used to look at mobile phones it is something different than traditional or it can be defined as an innovation or it is an experience rather than a phone. Due to the exclusivity and the features involved Apple can set a pr emium price for the iPhone 4 as the features and the experience of iPhone 4 cannot be imitated by any other mobile manufacturer. PRODUCT OFFERING The iPhone 4 provides a wide range of stunning features the iOS 4 is the heart of the phone, it is the worlds most powerful mobile operating software which distinguishes it from other mobile phones. The technology and the features used in the operating system will keep the iPhone 4 at least 4 years ahead of its competitors. The operating system also helps the phone to do a lot of things at once without even slowing down the performance of the phone. The 3.5 inch widescreen multi touch display of the iPhone 4 has a resolution of 960 X 640 pixels which is very high and it helps in giving a sharp pictures. The 5 megapixel camera along with LED flashlight helps in taking pictures in low light. The iPhone 4 is the world thinnest smartphone ever built and the glass used on the screen is made up of aluminium silicate which helps it to be durable and scratch resistant and is recyclable too. Apart from the hardware Apple has a collection of over 3,00,000 applications in the App Store which he lps in improving the performance of the iPhone as well as it updates the phone automatically. It has a built in flash drive of 32 GB or 16 GB and the built in battery provides a longer backup for calls and internet. POSITIONING MAPS According to Kotler 2010 the position maps are used by marketers to know the perception of the brand in consumer minds. The positioning of iPhone 4 lies in the luxury segment with high performance along with a high price than its competitors. BRAND EQUITY According to Dibb et. al. 2007 brand equity can be defined as the value of brand which goes above the functional benefits of the product. (Adapted from Dibb et. al. 2007, pp 319) Brand equity plays an important role in the positioning of the product in the market it is the value of the brand which the consumer keeps in mind. Brand Name Awarness The brand name awareness helps the consumer to get familiar with the brand which helps in the selection of the brand. In the case of iPhone 4 the brand is known to everyone and the consumers are switching to iPhone 4 because it is reliable and is of high quality as compared with other brands. Brand Loyalty Brand loyalty is an important aspect of the brand equity because it reduces the competition with other mobile phone brands. It helps in retaining the existing customers and provides a potential for new customers to be loyal. Apple with the launch of iPhone 4 has been loyal to its customers by delivering the most innovative features and exclusivity that earlier version of iPhone had. this helped Apple in retaining their customers and inviting new customers. Perceived Brand Quality Customers see quality with the brand. Apple is a brand and has high level of quality so the consumer has in mind that whatever product Apple will make will be of high quality and standards that is why Apple is able to sell the iPhone 4 at a premium price allowing it to reduce competition. Brand Association Apple has created a lifestyle for itself; the statement associated with iPhone 4 is This changes everything. Again. This means that Apple has introduced the iPhone 4 as a unique product which has the best features and value amongst its competitors. BRAND ELEMENTS Brand elements can be defined as the different criterias by which a product is defined. Brands elements should be Memorable Apple iPhone 4 has a strong brand image and is easily recognized by the consumer. Apple has been ranked among the top 10 brands of 2010 in the world it holds third position therefore there is a very strong image of the company in the minds of the consumers and the consumers is able to identify the brand. Meaningful After the launch of the Apple iPhone 4 the consumers have started switching their phones to the iPhone 4. This shows that the product that is iPhone 4 has been up to the mark in terms of creating the brand image. Likability The Apple iPhone 4 with its unique features and its futuristic looks has become a favourite for many consumers. Transferability Apple iPhone 4 has been successful in maintaining as well as improving the brand image that previous version of iPhone had, so the transfer between the iPhone 3GS and iPhone 4 has been handled quite well by the company. Adaptability The iPhone 4 with its applications has adapted itself in the market and the engineering involved in every part of the phone helps it to be adaptable. Protectability The iPhone 4 is an exclusive phone aimed at the higher social class, it protects itself from its competitors by innovations. The Apple iPhone 4 is not easily accessible to everyone as the price is quiet high which helps in giving exclusivity to the customers therefore apple is able to protect its brand image. CONCLUSION Brand equity plays a vital role in the positioning of the product and the brand elements support the brand to which the product is associated to. Apple sells the iPhone 4 at a premium price because it is the value that is associated with the product has been created using brand equity. Apple has shown a high involvement of research and development for the iPhone 4 and the features it offers are remarkable. References Kotler, P Armstrong, G (2010) Principles of Marketing 13th edition, New Jersey: Pearson Prentice Hall Dibb, S., et.al. (2006), Marketing : Concepts and Strategies, Boston, MA ; Abingdon : Houghton Mifflin West, J., Mace, M. (2007). Entering a mature industry through innovation:Apples iPhone strategy. Druid summer cofrence.

Effect of Electromagnetic Field of Mobile Phones

Effect of Electromagnetic Field of Mobile Phones Introduction Mobile phones have become indispensable as communication tools in the present world. From 1990 to 2013, worldwide mobile phone subscriptions grew from 12.4 million to over 6.8 billion, penetrating more than 95% of the global population and reaching the bottom of the economic pyramid to cater to the lower socioeconomic groups as well (International Telecomunication union, Geneva). The Indian telecom industry has undergone market liberalization at a very rapid pace and grown since 1990. Today, India has become one of the fastest growing telecom markets in the world. India is the world’s second largest mobile phone user base with over 929.37 million users in the year 2012 (Mittal Anuj 2013) (TRAI). Widespread mobile phone ownership and usage has aroused public concern over possible harmful biological effects of their use. Electromagnetic frequencies of mobile phones emit radiations between the 800 MHz and 2000 MHz, which causes excitation and rotation of water molecules and some other organic molecules, hence causing thermal and non-thermal effects on humans (Frey AH, 1998). Effects of electromagnetic fields (EMF) transmitted by mobile phones over human health, is a matter of public and scientific concern. Burning sensation and sensation of warmth around the ear (Oftedal G 2000), headache (Frey AH, 1998), sleep disturbance (Borbely AA, 1999), changes in the cognitive functions and neural activity (Preece AW,1999) (Hamblin DL, 2004), as well as changes such as decrease in the cerebral blood flow and alteration in functioning of blood brain barrier has been reported as the effects of mobile phones use. (Fritze K) (Haarala C, 2003). The potential carcinogenic effects of radiations emitted from mobile phones is controversial (Repacholi MH, 1997) (Moulder JE, 1999). Therefore, any biological effect related to mobile phone use, should be considered as a high-priority health issue. The hearing system is in the close proximity to the mobile phone so hearing system is potentially the most affected target for thermal and non-thermal effects. The external ear provides the route by which electro-magnetic frequencies from mobile phones reach the peripheral and central auditory system, which leads to relatively high energy deposition in the ear. The auditory system and particularly the cochlear outer hair cells (OHC) are known to be highly sensitive to a variety of exogenous and endogenous factors. Externally applied electrical and magnetic fields are known to produce some hearing sensation in the ear (Watanabe Y, 2000). Proximity of ear to electromagnetic source may lead to even larger damage and side effects such as hearing loss. One report, released from researchers at the Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research in Chandigarh, India, revealed that people who talk on a cell phone for more than an hour a day were found to have suffered losses of hig h-frequency hearing (Panda NK, 2010). However, little attention has been paid to the effects of electromagnetic field (EMF) of mobile phones on hearing. Till date, the interaction between electromagnetic fields (EMF) emitted by mobile phones and auditory function is not well established. Clear conclusions cannot be drawn from studies available, about the presence or absence of effects because of the limited sample sizes and short duration of studies. Despite of all these evidence, only recently, some studies have analyzed the effects of mobile phones on the human auditory system. However, the results are not consistent and are variable among different study designs. Only limited research data concerning interaction between EMF emitted by mobile phones and auditory function and possible impact on hearing, are available in the literature. The animal experiment, distortion product otoacoustic emissions (DPOAEs) did not show statistically significant changes on the outer hair cells functionality of adult as well as developing rats exposed to EMF at 900-1800 MHz frequencies for 1–2 h per day for 30 days(Parazzini M,2002) (Kizilay A, 2003). No appreciable change was seen in evoked otoacoustic emissions (OAEs) and none of the subjects reported a deterioration in hearing threshold level after 10 minutes exposure to the EMFs emitted by mobile phones in a recent human experiment to study the effects of the EMF of mobile phones on hearing status(Ozturan O, 2002). Other studies based on the brainstem evoked audiometry response (BERA) concluded that 30 minutes of mobile phone use has no adverse effect on the human auditory system(Arai N) (Gà ¡bor Stefanics, 2007). These small number of publications show that there is a big gap in the knowledge of potential biological effects of cellular phone use on hearing. Mobile phone is based on the two way radio communication between a portable handset and closest base station. Cellular system divides the city into small cells, which vary from hundreds of metre in densely populated areas, to kilometres in the sparsely populated areas. Each cell has abase stationthat consists of a tower and a small building containing the radio equipment. A cell phone is aduplexdevice, which means that there are two different frequencies, one for talking and another separate frequency for listening. Therefore, both persons can talk on the call at the same time. Mobile phones operate withincells, and they can switch cells as from one cell to another as we move around from one place to another. This gives cell phones this incredible range, because the call is transferred between the base stations (cell) without interruption. The radio communications utilizes electromagnetic waves at frequency around 900 MHz to carry information via small change in the wave’s frequency. A base station antenna typically radiates the radiations of about 60 Watts and a handset emits the radiations of 1-2 Watts. The antenna of a mobile phone emits radiations equally in all directions but a base station, unlike cell phone, produces a beam that is much more directional. There are two common technologies used by mobile-phone networks for transmitting information: TDMA [(Time Division Multiple Access) also known as GSM(Global System for Mobile communications)] does it by chopping the signals into sequential time frames. Each user of the channel takes turns to transmit and receive signals. In reality, only one person is using the channel at a given point of time. One of the important features of GSM system is theSubscriber Identity Module (SIM card). The SIM is a small, detachablesmart card, which contains the users subscription information (i.e. validity and talktime) and phone book. This allows the user to retain his or her information while switching mobile phone handsets. Alternatively, the user can also change service provider while retaining the handset, by changing the SIM card. GSM is currently the market leader in mobile phone industry (Michel Mouly, 1992). CDMA (Code Division Multiple Access) The CDMA is based on spread spectrum technology which uses the whole bandwidth available. This allows each user to transmit frequency to the entire spectrum at all the time. CDMA uses a type of digital modulation called spread spectrum. CDMA spreads the voice data over the channel in a random fashion. The receiver undoes this randomization and collects the bits together to produce the sound. CDMA is an example ofmultiple accesses, in which several transmitters can send information over a single communication channel at the same time. This allows several users to share a band of frequencies (Andrew J, 1995). GSM phones emit continuous wave pulses, so there is a great need to reduce the exposures to electromagnetic fields emitted from the cell phones with â€Å"continuous wave pulses†. On the other hand CDMA cell phones do not produce these pulses. GSM phones emit about 28 times more radiation when compared to the CDMA mobile phones. Therefore, GSM phones are more biologically harmful as compared to CDMA. Subtle deleterious effects to hearing can be assessed by modalities such as BERA, otoacoustic emission (OAE) and Pure tone audiometry, which measure the cochlear and retrocochlear , outer hair cochlear cell and middle ear functions respectively. In the evaluation of the functional status of auditory nerve and brainstem auditory sensory pathway Brainstem Auditory Evoked Response is a simple and effective method. It is a noninvasive and reproducible method that requires less cooperation of patient and measures the specific part of the auditory pathway. It is not significantly affected by state of consciousness, drugs and variety of environmental factors including other sensory inputs to cortex. BERA is an objective diagnostic tool widely used in modern neurophysiology. It represents the electrical events generated along the auditory pathway which is recorded from the scalp. These responses include several waves related to the specific areas of auditory pathway. Latencies of these waves reflect the neural conduction velocity at corresponding levels of auditory brainstem. Pure tone  audiometry  (PTA) is the keyhearing testused to identifyhearing threshold levels of an individual, enabling determination of the degree, type and configuration of ahearing loss. Thus, it provides the basis for diagnosis and management. PTA is a subjective, behavioral measurement of hearing threshold, as it relies on patient response topure tonestimuli. Therefore, PTA is used on adults and children old enough to cooperate with the test procedure. The initial laboratory exploration of OAEs coincided with, and contributed to, the rapid development of a new understanding of cochlear function. Numerous experiments have demonstrated that OAE are intimately associated with a key feature of the cochlear mechanism that has become known as the â€Å"cochlear amplifier†(Cooper NP, 1997). With OAEs it is possible to demonstrate cochlear mechanical frequency selectivity and nonlinearity and to observe the depression of cochlear activity caused by noise, drugs and medial olivocochlear stimulation. AIMS AND OBJECTIVES This study is designed to evaluate the potential effects of electromagnetic field of mobile phones on human ear. Assessment of hearing threshold by pure tone audiometry and there comparison in users and non-users. Assessment of auditory pathway by Brainstem Evoked Response Auditory (BERA), and there comparison in mobile phone users and non-users. Assessment of cochlear function by recording the otoacoustic emissions produced from outer hair cells of inner ear, and there comparison in mobile phone users and non-users.

segmental reporting :: essays research papers

1.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Review and approval of the previous meeting’s minutes. 2.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Financial overview from Rosaline, on Jim’s behalf. She shared the annual budget of Hope House (see page 7 of Hope House project proposal, Appendix A, attached). Rosaline then explained how money is obtained to meet expenses. There was a long list of either annual, monthly, or semi-regular donors. From month to month, however, there is no guarantee that money sufficient to cover expenses will come in. Rent is paid regularly, but other expenses are not. The people who usually suffer end up being the support staff, and the home is currently behind on their salaries. The home also has a large outstanding debt with Gertrude’s Garden Hospital. 3.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Rosaline then provided an overview of some of the Home’s key needs. These included: -  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  staff salaries -  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  a vehicle -  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  a generator -  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  heaters -  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  baby care items food and nutritional formula -  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  medical care -  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  pharmaceuticals   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  among others. 4.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Katherine then provided her overview of the research she carried out on fundraising (see Appendix B, attached). Basically there are 3 ways to make money: a solicitation campaign, selling a product, or hosting an event. There is no one-size-fits all perfect fundraising solution. Katherine emphasized the importance of having quality campaign materials (perhaps we could find a business willing to print these for us free of charge) and good publicity. The general wisdom is that no more than 2-3 initiatives should be undertaken each year so as not to exhaust either volunteers or donors. We also need to determine who our audience is: who would want to give to babies? Roz mentioned that here in Kenya it is generally best not to focus on using the money raised for wages, though Katherine K. said that this would not be a problem abroad. 5.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  This led quite naturally to a productive brainstorming session on ways to fundraise. The ideas generated are listed below: -  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Java House pancake breakfasts -  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Leo Club at ISK -  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Concert at ISK of local musicians, e.g. Eric Wainaina -  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Model United Nations dance -  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Golf tournament -  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Art exhibition -  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Auction -  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Develop list of prospective donors and send out solicitation letters (e.g. General Motors, Toyota, Brookside, baby food companies, baby care items companies, etc.) -  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Newsletter for donors -  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã¢â‚¬Å"shopping list†? -  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  food drives (already being done occasionally) -  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  cans for collecting coins in businesses (already being done to some extent) -  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã¢â‚¬Å"Friends of Hope House† program -  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Adopt a Cot program (already being done to some extent) -  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  British Army – shipment -  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ten pin bowling/mini golf -  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Working with one of the theatres for an opening night event on a new film -  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Dinner/dance at a major hotel or a BBQ around the pool with some entertainment

Blogs and the Blog Revolution Essays -- Internet Online Communication

The Blog Revolution Our history is littered with advancements in writing and communication technologies that have had profound and long lasting effects on our modern society. One need only look back five centuries to the time shortly before the advent of the printing press to see a time when towns were so isolated that even news from their closest neighbors were rare and the sight of a book outside of a church was even less common. Yet 100 years later the total number of books in existence, and the spread of information and ideas alongside, had increased explosively (Burke). The invention of the printing press was undoubtedly one of the most significant advances in communications in modern history. Recently, a similar revolution has been taking place, but this time it has spread across the globe at a much faster speed. We all know this revolution as the Internet, and though it is still relatively young, no one will refute the claim that it has already had sweeping effects upon our society. However, the Internet is not a specific tool, rather it is a means for which other tools can be employed. The earliest and most widespread of these is E-Mail, but no less popular are instant messaging programs, news and personal websites and even discussion forums. Each of these can be said to serve their own unique function and some can even be said to have influenced the way people write. A newer tool has recently arisen as well, most commonly known as blogging software. This software takes the form of an online journal accessible to anyone who cares to view it. These blogs, however, seem to try to accomplish the same function as several of the pre-existing and more widespread tools, and it is for this reason that I do not believe tha... ...action as many other tools already do, is in fact a niche technology. For, as mentioned, some people do wish for a place to be the focus and let their thoughts be known to the rest of the world. This is evident by the fact that blogs and personal websites exist all over, even though they may never be as popular in readership or participation as the other technologies. So, though I do not believe that blogging software will ever become as widespread as its older cousins, it does serve a small niche of people with exactly what they're looking for. Works Cited Mitchell, William J. "Homer to Homepage: Designing Digital Books." Rethinking Media Change. Ed. David Thornburn, and Henry Jenkins. Cambridge: MIT Press, 2003. 203-215. Burke, James. "Communication in the Middle Ages." Communication in History: Technology, Culture, Society. Ed. Crowley, and Heyer. 74-82.

Art Analysis Paper :: essays research papers

Art Analysis Paper   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The first painting analyzed was North Country Idyll by Arthur Bowen Davis. The focal point was the white naked woman. The white was used to bring her out and focus on the four actual colored males surrounding her. The woman appears to be blowing a kiss. There is use of stumato along with atmospheric perspective. There is excellent use of color for the setting. It is almost a life like painting. This painting has smooth brush strokes. The sailing ship is the focal point because of the bright blue with extravagant large sails. The painting is a dry textured flat paint. The painting is evenly balanced. When I look at this painting, it reminds me of settlers coming to a new world that is be founded by its beauty. It seems as if they swam from the ship.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The second painting was by George W. Bellows and named Shoghead. This painting brought a sense of ease and relaxation. I can picture myself on the top of the mountain listening to the waves crash on the sides. The open countryside topped by the clouds give the painting a sense of realism. The extremely bright blue water stands out the most, though the focal point is not clear. There is not an excessive use of paint. It is as if Bellows caked it on his brush and made quick short strokes. The use of such dark colors on the hill is a mystery. The terrain has a roughness that makes the painting come to life. The artist did a great job of showing the depth. If I had to guess, he was influenced by Picasso’s work because of the extensive use of thick point.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The third painting was by Julian Story and it was called American Born in England. It was a battle painting. The black prince stands out as the focal point. It is the center of the painting and brings notice to the way the other knights are dressed. The Black Knight (the Prince of Wales) stands overlooking King John, who is blind. King John wanted to be in the battle for his country. The background (depth) is shown in the distance by atmospheric perspective. There is a sense of honor in the knight for the king. There is a great use of color. The painting is very life like. The picture seems to come to life, making me feel as if I were part of the painting!

Business Ethics Comprises

NOTE: 1. CASE 2, p316~3241. Business ethics comprisesA) the laws and regulations that guide behavior in the world of business.B) the morals, values, and customs that guide behavior in general.C) the principles and standards that guide behavior in the world of business.D) the obligations businesses assume to maximize their positive impact and minimize their negative impact on stakeholders.E) the morals, values, and customs that parents teach their children.2. Social responsibility isA) an organization's obligation to maximize its positive effects and minimize its negative effects on stakeholders.B) principles and standards that guide behavior in the world of business.C) a business's responsibility not to pollute the environment.D) a business's responsibility to manufacture products that function properly without harming consumers.E) charitable contributions made by a business to enhance its image.3. Which of the following is not one of the rights spelled out by John F.Kennedy in his C onsumers' Bill of Rights? .A) The right to chooseB) The right to safetyC) The right to be informedD) The right to be ethicalE) The right to be heard4. Business ethics was acknowledged as a field of study by business academics and practitioners in the .A) 1990s.B) 1980s.C) 1970s.D) 1960s.E) years prior to 1960.5. Which statement best describes the evolution of business ethics?A) From a field of study to theological discussion to recognition of social issuesB) From recognition of social issues to a field of study to theological discussionC) From a field of study to recognition of social issues to theological discussionD) From recognition of social issues to theological discussion to a field of studyE) From theological discussion to recognition of social issues to a field of study6. Before the 1960s, ethical issues related to business were often discussedA) theologically.B) economically.C) politically.D) sociologically.E) psychologically.7. The study of business ethics is important to better understand all of the following exceptA) that a person's own moral philosophies and decision-making experiences may not be sufficient to guide him or her in the business world.B) how and why people make ethical or unethical decisions.C) how to cope with conflicts between a person's own values and those of the organization in which he or she works.D) that business ethics is merely an extension of an individual's own personal ethics.E) how to identify ethical issues that arise in the business world.8. Individuals' personal ethics play a major role in the evaluation of business decisions only when their preferences or valuesA) differ from those of their employer.B) influence their performance in the workplace.C) are unethical.D) are ethical.E) result in negative publicity for their employer.9. The ability of a business organization to achieve its business goals is directly affected by whether its behavior is judged to be right or wrong byA) society.B) its union members.C) its em ployees.D) Congress.E) its competitors.10. An individual with acceptable personal ethics may not be able to handle complex business ethical issues if the individual hasA) family concerns.B) an unethical boss.C) limited business experience.D) financial concerns.E) a marketing background.11. The study of business ethics in North America has evolved through _____ distinct stages.A) fiveB) fourC) threeD) tenE) nine12. Business professors began to teach and write about social responsibility during theA) 1960s.B) 1970s.C) 1980s.D) 1990s.E) 2000s.13. To be successful, relationships with investors must rest on dependability, _____, and commitment.A) ProfitsB) DividendsC) TrustD) ConfidenceE) codes of ethics14. Recently, what type of unethical behavior within business has resulted in a significant reduction of trust among the general public?A) Accounting fraudB) Environmentally unsafe practicesC) Employee discrimination and harassmentD) Defective productsE) Bribery15. Which of the following is not one of the rewards for being ethical and socially responsible in business?A) Greater employee commitmentB) Greater employee turnoverC) Improved customer trust and satisfactionD) Increased investor willingness to entrust fundsE) Better financial performance16. Employees' perceptions of their firm as having an ethical climate lead toA) lack of focus on goals.B) negative performance.C) social responsibility.D) improved relationships with competitors.E) performance-enhancing outcomes.17. When employees see honesty, respect, and trust applied frequently in the workplace, theyA) feel less pressure to compromise ethical standards.B) observe less misconduct.C) are more satisfied with their organizations overall.D) feel more valued as employees.E) All of these18. Investors are concerned about business ethics because they know that misconduct canA) foster stability.B) improve employee commitment.C) improve customer loyalty.D) lower stock prices.E) raise stock prices.19. Most strong org anizational climates focus on the core value of placing ________ interests first.A) customers'B) employees'C) stockholders'D) suppliers'E) distributors'Ans:  Ã‚  A Format:  Ã‚  Multiple  Choice Page:  Ã‚  21 20. In the history of business ethics, the 1990s can best be described as a time when business ethics wasA) formalized.B) consolidated.C) institutionalized.D) popularized.E) marginalized.21. An ethical issue is a problem, situation, or opportunityA) that harms consumers.B) that harms the environment.C) that requires society to choose among several actions that must be evaluated as right or wrong.D) that requires an individual, group, or organization to choose among several actions that must be evaluated as ethical or unethical.E) that requires an individual, group, or organization to choose between harming consumers or the environment and earning more profits.22. Ethical issues in business are defined byA) customers.B) government regulators.C) employees.D) shareholders.E) stakeholders.23. Which of the following statements about stakeholders is correct?A) None of the external stakeholders are primary stakeholders.B) External stakeholders cannot be primary stakeholders.C) All internal stakeholders are primary stakeholders.D) Coop stakeholders cannot be secondary.E) Secondary stakeholders can be tertiary.24. Which of the following does not represent the set of primary stakeholders of a business?A) Employees, customers, and investorsB) Shareholders, the community, and the mediaC) Customers, investors, and governmentD) Employees, investors, and shareholdersE) The community, employees, and government25. The primary responsibility of ensuring that ethical, legal, and social standards are adhered to within a business rests withA) the investors.B) the government.C) the management board.D) the employees.E) the customers.

Old Folks Home Essay

Sharks are a group of fish characterized by a cartilaginous skeleton, five to seven gill slits on the sides of the head, andpectoral fins that are not fused to the head. Modern sharks are classified within the clade Selachimorpha (or Selachii) and are the sister group to the rays. However, the term â€Å"shark† has also been used for extinct members of the subclassElasmobranchii outside the Selachimorpha, such as Cladoselache and Xenacanthus. Under this broader definition, the earliest known sharks date from more than 420 million years ago. Since then, sharks have diversified into over 470 species. They range in size from the small dwarf lanternshark(Etmopterus perryi), a deep sea species of only 17 centimetres (6.7 in) in length, to the whale shark (Rhincodon typus), the largest fish in the world, which reaches approximately 12 metres (39 ft). Sharks are found in all seas and are common to depths of 2,000 metres (6,600 ft). They generally do not live in freshwater although there are a few known exceptions, such as the bull shark and the river shark, which can survive in both seawater and freshwater.] They breathe through five to seven gill slits. Sharks have a covering of dermal denticles that protects their skin from damage and parasites in addition to improving their fluid dynamics. They have several sets of replaceable teeth. Well-known species such as the great white shark, tiger shark, blue shark, mako shark, and the hammerhead shark areapex predators—organisms at the top of their underwater food chain Tetraodontidae is a family of primarily marine and estuarine fish of the order Tetraodontiformes. The family includes many familiar species, which are variously called pufferfish, puffers, balloonfish, blowfish, bubblefish, globefish, swellfish,toadfish, toadies, honey toads, sugar toads, and sea squab.[1] They are morphologically similar to the closely relatedporcupinefish, which have large external spines (unlike the thinner, hidden spines of Tetraodontidae, which are only visible when the fish has puffed up). The scientific name refers to the four large teeth, fused into an upper and lower plate, which are used for crushing the shells of crustaceans and mollusks, their natural prey. Pufferfish are generally believed to be the second-most  poisonous vertebrates in the world, after the golden poison frog. Certain internal organs, such as liver, and sometimes the skin, contain tetrodotoxin and are highly toxic to most animals when eaten; nevertheless, the meat of some species is considered a delicacy in Japan (as æ ² ³Ã¨ ±Å¡, pronounced as fugu), Korea (as ë ³ µbok or ë ³ µÃ¬â€" ´ bogeo ), and China (as æ ² ³Ã¨ ±Å¡ hà ©tà ºn) when prepared by specifically trained chefs who know which part is safe to eat and in what quantity. The Tetraodontidae contain at least 120 species of puffers in 19 genera.[1] They are most diverse in the tropics, relatively uncommon in the temperate zone, and completely absent from cold waters. They are typically small to medium in size, although a few species can reach lengths of greater than 100 cm (39 in). The paradise fish, paradisefish, or paradise gourami, Macropodus opercularis, is a species of gourami found in most types of fresh water in East Asia, ranging from the Korean Peninsula to northern Vietnam. This species can reach a length of 6.7 cm (2.6 in), though most are only about 5.5 cm (2.2 in). Paradise gouramis were one of the first ornamental fish available to western aquarium keepers, having been imported toEurope as early as the 19th century. The paradise fish is one of the more aggressive members of its family. It is more aggressive than the three spot gourami, yet less pugnacious in nature than the less commonly kept combtail. Paradise fish are fairly combative, harassing and attacking each other, as well as potentially killing small fish. In the wild, they are predators, eating insects,invertebrates, and fish fry. The popularity of this species has waned in recent decades as much more colorful (and often less pugnacious) species of gouramishave become widely available to hobbyists. This species is one of the few fish that can change its color (lighter or darker) in response to stimuli. Eels are elongated fish, ranging in length from 5 cm (2.0 in) in the one-jawed eel (Monognathusahlstromi)[dubious – discuss] to 4 m (13 ft) in the slender giant moray.[2] Adults range in weight from 30 grams (1.1 oz) to well over 25 kilograms (55 lb). They possess no pelvic fins, and many species also lack pectoral fins. The dorsal and anal fins are fused with  the caudal or tail fin, forming a single ribbon running along much of the length of the animal. Most eels live in the shallow waters of the ocean and burrow into sand, mud, or amongst rocks. A majority of eel species are nocturnal, and thus are rarely seen. Sometimes they are seen living together in holes, or â€Å"eel pits†. Some species of eels also live in deeper water on the continental shelves and over the slopes deep as 4,000 m (13,000 ft). Only members of the Anguilla family regularly inhabit fresh water, but they too return to the sea to breed. Eels begin life as flat and transparent larvae, or leptocep hali. Eel larvae drift in the surface waters of the sea, feeding onmarine snow, small particles that float in the water. Eel larvae then metamorphose into glass eels and then becomeelvers before finally seeking out their juvenile and adult habitats. Freshwater elvers travel upstream and are forced to climb up obstructions, such as weirs, dam walls, and natural waterfalls. Lady Colin Campbell found, at Ballisodare, the eel fisheries were greatly improved by the hanging of loosely plaited grass ladders over barriers, enabling the elvers to ascend. The heaviest true eel is the European conger. The maximum size of this species has been reported as reaching a length of 3 m (10 ft) and a weight of 110 kg (240 lb). Other eels are longer but do not weigh as much, such as the slender giant moray which reaches 4 m (13 ft). The guppy (Poecilia reticulata), also known as million fish and rainbow fish,[1] is one of the world’s most widely distributed tropical fish, and one of the most popularfreshwater aquarium fish species. It is a member of the Poeciliidae family and, like all other members of the family, is live-bearing.[2] Guppies, whose natural range is in northeast South America, were introduced to many habitats and are now found all over the world. They are highly adaptable and thrive in many different environmental and ecological conditions.[3] Male guppies, which are smaller than females, have ornamental caudal and dorsal fins, while females are duller in colour. Wild guppies generally feed on a variety of food source including benthic algae and aquatic insectlarvae.[4] Guppies are used as a model organism in the field of ecology, evolution, and behavioural studies.[3] They are the most ferocious fish in the world. Even the most formidable fish, the sharks or the barracudas, usually attack things smaller than themselves. But the piranhas habitually attack things much larger than themselves. They will snap a finger off a hand incautiously trailed in the water; they mutilate swimmers—in every river town in Paraguay there are men who have been thus mutilated; they will rend and devour alive any wounded man or beast; for blood in the water excites them to madness. They will tear wounded wild fowl to pieces; and bite off the tails of big fish as they grow exhausted when fighting after being hooked. But the piranha is a short, deep-bodied fish, with a blunt face and a heavily undershot or projecting lower jaw which gapes widely. The razor-edged teeth are wedge-shaped like a shark’s, and the jaw muscles possess great power. The rabid, furious snaps drive the teeth through flesh and bone. The head with its short muzzle, staring malignant eyes, and gaping, cruelly armed jaws, is the embodiment of evil ferocity; and the actions of the fish exactly match its looks. I never witnessed an exhibition of such impotent, savage fury as was shown by the piranhas as they flapped on deck. When fresh from the water and thrown on the boards they uttered an extraordinary squealing sound. As they flapped about they bit with vicious eagerness at whatever presented itself. One of them flapped into a cloth and seized it with a bulldog grip. Another grasped one of its fellows; another snapped at a piece of wood, and left the teeth-marks deep therein. They are the pests of the waters, and it is necessary to be exceedingly cautious about either swimming or wading where they are found. If cattle are driven into, or of their own accord enter, the water, they are commonly not molested; but if by chance some unusually big or ferocious specimen of these fearsome fishes does bite an animal—taking off part of an ear, or perhaps of a teat from the udder of a cow—the blood brings up every member of the ravenous throng which is anywhere near, and unless the attacked animal can immediately make its escape from the water it is devoured alive.[28] A tuna is a saltwater finfish that belongs to the tribe Thunnini, a sub-grouping of the mackerel family (Scombridae) – which together with the tunas, also includes the bonitos, mackerels, and Spanish mackerels. Thunnini comprises fifteen species across five genera,[1] the sizes of which vary  greatly, ranging from the bullet tuna (max. length: 50 cm (1.6 ft), weight: 1.8 kg (4 lb)) up to theAtlantic bluefin tuna (max. length: 4.6 m (15 ft), weight: 684 kg (1,508 lb)). The bluefin averages 2 m (6.6 ft), and is believed to live for up to 50 years. Their circulatory and respiratory systems are unique among fish, enabling them to maintain a body temperature higher than the surrounding water. An active and agile predator, the tuna has a sleek, streamlined body, and is among the fastest-swimming pelagic fish – the yellowfin tuna, for example, is capable of speeds of up to 75 km/h (47 mph).[2] Found in warm seas, it is extensively fished commercially and is popular as a game fish. As a result of over-fishing, stocks of some tuna species, such as the Southern bluefin tuna, have been reduced dangerously close to the point of extinction.[3] The hammerhead sharks are a group of sharks in the family Sphyrnidae, so named for the unusual and distinctive structure of their heads, which are flattened and laterally extended into a â€Å"hammer† shape called a â€Å"cephalofoil†. Most hammerhead species are placed in the genus Sphyrna while the winghead sharkis placed in its own genus, Eusphyra. Many not necessarily mutually exclusive functions have been proposed for the cephalofoil, including sensory reception, maneuvering, and prey manipulation. Hammerheads are found worldwide in warmer waters along coastlines and continental shelves. Unlike most sharks, hammerheads usually swim in schools during the day, becoming solitary hunters at night. Some of these schools can be found near Malpelo Island in Colombia, Cocos Island off Costa Rica, and near Molokai Island in Hawaii. Large schools are also seen in southern and eastern Africa. Starfish or sea stars are star-shaped echinoderms belonging to the classAsteroidea. Common usage frequently finds these names being also applied toophiuroids, which are correctly referred to as â€Å"brittle stars† or â€Å"basket stars†. About 1,500 species of starfish occur on the seabed in all the world’s oceans, from the tropics to frigid polar waters. They are found from the intertidal zonedown to abyssal depths, 6,000 m (20,000 ft) below the surface. Starfish are marine invertebrates. They typically have a central disc and five arms, though some species have more than this. The aboral or upper surface may be smooth, granular or spiny, and is covered with overlapping plates. Many species are brightly coloured in various shades of red or orange, while others are blue, grey or brown. Starfish have tube feet operated by a hydraulic systemand a mouth at the centre of the oral or lower surface. They are opportunisticfeeders and are mostly predators on benthic invertebrates. Several species have specialized feeding behaviours including eversion of their stomachs andsuspension feeding. They have complex life cycles and can reproduce both sexually and asexually. Most can regenerate damaged parts or lost arms and they can shed arms as a means of defence. The Asteroidea occupy several significant ecological roles. Starfish, such as the ochre sea star (Pisaster ochraceus) and the reef sea star (Stichaster australis), have become widely known as examples of the keystone species concept in ecology. The tropicalcrown-of-thorns starfish (Acanthaster planci) is a voracious predator of coralthroughout the Indo-Pacific region, and the northern Pacific sea star is considered to be one of the world’s 100 worst invasive species. The fossil record for starfish is ancient, dating back to the Ordovician around 450 million years ago, but it is rather poor, as starfish tend to disintegrate after death. Only the ossicles and spines of the animal are likely to be preserved, making remains hard to locate. With their appealing symmetrical shape, starfish have played a part in literature, legend, design and popular culture. They are sometimes collected as curios, used in design or as logos, and in some cultures, despite possible toxicity, they are eaten.

The Twilight Saga 4: Breaking Dawn 22. Promised

Thinking of Renesmee brought her to that center-stage place in my strange, new, and roomy but distractible mind. So many questions. â€Å"Tell me about her,† i insisted as he took my hand. Being linked barely slowed us. â€Å"She's like nothing else in the world,† he told me, and the sound of an almost religious devotion was there again in his voice. I felt a sharp pang of jealousy over this stranger. He knew her and I did not. It wasn't fair. â€Å"How much is she like you? How much like me? Or like I was, anyway.† â€Å"It seems a fairly even divide.† â€Å"She was warm-blooded,† I remembered. â€Å"Yes. She has a heartbeat, though it runs a little bit faster than a human's. Her temperature is a little bit hotter than usual, too. She sleeps.† â€Å"Really?† â€Å"Quite well for a newborn. The only parents in the world who don't need sleep, and our child already sleeps through the night.† He chuckled. I liked the way he said our child. The words made her more real. â€Å"She has exactly your color eyes – so that didn't get lost, after all.† He smiled at me. â€Å"They're so beautiful.† â€Å"And the vampire parts?† I asked. â€Å"Her skin seems about as impenetrable as ours. Not that anyone would dream of testing that.† I blinked at him, a little shocked. â€Å"Of course no one would,† he assured me again. â€Å"Her diet†¦ well, she prefers to drink blood. Carlisle continues to try to persuade her to drink some baby formula, too, but she doesn't have much patience with it. Can't say that I blame her – nasty-smelling stuff, even for human food.† I gaped openly at him now. He made it sound like they were having conversations. â€Å"Persuade her?† â€Å"She's intelligent, shockingly so, and progressing at an immense pace. Though she doesn't speak – yet – she communicates quite effectively.† â€Å"Doesn't. Speak. Yet† He slowed our pace further, letting me absorb this. â€Å"What do you mean, she communicates effectively?† I demanded. â€Å"I think it will be easier for you to†¦ see for yourself. It's rather difficult to describe.† I considered that. I knew there was a lot that I needed to see for myself before it would be real. I wasn't sure how much more I was ready for, so I changed the subject. â€Å"Why is Jacob still here?† I asked. â€Å"How can he stand it? Why should he?† My ringing voice trembled a little. â€Å"Why should he have to suffer more?† â€Å"Jacob isn't suffering,† he said in a strange new tone. â€Å"Though I might be willing to change his condition,† Edward added through his teeth. â€Å"Edward!† I hissed, yanking him to a stop (and feeling a little thrill of smugness that I was able to do it). â€Å"How can you say that? Jacob has given up everything to protect us! What I've put him through – !† I cringed at the dim memory of shame and guilt. It seemed odd now that I had needed him so much then. That sense of absence without him near had vanished; it must have been a human weakness. â€Å"You'll see exactly how I can say that,† Edward muttered. â€Å"I promised him that I would let him explain, but I doubt you'll see it much differently than I do. Of course, I'm often wrong about your thoughts, aren't I?† He pursed his lips and eyed me. â€Å"Explain what?† Edward shook his head. â€Å"I promised. Though I don't know if I really owe him anything at all anymore. . . .† His teeth ground together. â€Å"Edward, I don't understand.† Frustration and indignation took over my head. He stroked my cheek and then smiled gently when my face smoothed out in response, desire momentarily overruling annoyance. â€Å"It's harder than you make it look, I know. I remember.† â€Å"I don't like feeling confused.† â€Å"I know. And so let's get you home, so that you can see it all for yourself.† His eyes ran over the remains of my dress as he spoke of going home, and he frowned. â€Å"Hmm.† After a half second of thought, he unbuttoned his white shirt and held it out for me to put my arms through. â€Å"That bad?† He grinned. I slipped my arms into his sleeves and then buttoned it swiftly over my ragged bodice. Of course, that left him without a shirt, and it was impossible not to find that distracting. ‘Til race you,† I said, and then cautioned, â€Å"no throwing the game this time!† He dropped my hand and grinned. â€Å"On your mark †¦Ã¢â‚¬  Finding my way to my new home was simpler than walking down Charlie's street to my old one. Our scent left a clear and easy trail to follow, even running as fast as I could. Edward had me beat till we hit the river. I took a chance and made my leap early, trying to use my extra strength to win. â€Å"Ha!† I exulted when I heard my feet touch the grass first. Listening for his landing, I heard something I did not expect. Something loud and much too close. A thudding heart. Edward was beside me in the same second, his hands clamped down hard on the tops of my arms. â€Å"Don't breathe,† he cautioned me urgently. I tried not to panic as I froze mid-breath. My eyes were the only things that moved, wheeling instinctively to find the source of the sound. Jacob stood at the line where the forest touched the Cullens' lawn, his arms folded across his body, his jaw clenched tight. Invisible in the woods behind him, I heard now two larger hearts, and the faint crush of bracken under huge, pacing paws. â€Å"Carefully, Jacob,† Edward said. A snarl from the forest echoed the concern in his voice. â€Å"Maybe this isn't the best way – â€Å" â€Å"You think it would be better to let her near the baby first?† Jacob interrupted. â€Å"It's safer to see how Bella does with me. I heal fast.† This was a test? To see if I could not kill Jacob before I tried to not kill Renesmee? I felt sick in the strangest way – it had nothing to do with my stomach, only my mind. Was this Edward's idea? I glanced at his face anxiously; Edward seemed to deliberate for a moment, and then his expression twisted from concern into something else. He shrugged, and there was an undercurrent of hostility in his voice when he said, â€Å"It's your neck, I guess.† The growl from the forest was furious this time; Leah, I had no doubt. What was with Edward? After all that we'd been through, shouldn't he have been able to feel some kindness for my best friend? I'd thought – maybe foolishly – that Edward was sort of Jacob's friend now, too. I must have misread them. But what was Jacob doing? Why would he offer himself as a test to protect Renesmee? It didn't make any sense to me. Even if our friendship had survived†¦ And as my eyes met Jacob's now, I thought that maybe it had. He still looked like my best friend. But he wasn't the one who had changed. What did I look like to him? Then he smiled his familiar smile, the smile of a kindred spirit, and I was sure our friendship was intact. It was just like before, when we were hanging out in his homemade garage, just two friends killing time. Easy and normal. Again, I noticed that the strange need I'd felt for him before I'd changed was completely gone. He was just my friend, the way it was supposed to be. It still made no sense what he was doing now, though. Was he really so selfless that he would try to protect me – with his own life – from doing something in an uncontrolled split second that I would regret in agony forever? That went way beyond simply tolerating what I had become, or miraculously managing to stay my friend. Jacob was one of the best people I knew, but this seemed like too much to accept from anyone. His grin widened, and he shuddered slightly. â€Å"I gotta say it, Bells. You're a freak show.† I grinned back, falling easily into the old pattern. This was a side of him I understood. Edward growled. â€Å"Watch yourself, mongrel.† The wind blew from behind me and I quickly filled my lungs with the safe air so I could speak. â€Å"No, he's right. The eyes are really something, aren't they?† â€Å"Super-creepy. But it's not as bad as I thought it would be.† â€Å"Gee – thanks for the amazing compliment!† He rolled his eyes. â€Å"You know what I mean. You still look like you – sort of. Maybe it's not the look so much as†¦ you are Bella. I didn't think it would feel like you were still here.† He smiled at me again without a trace of bitterness or resentment anywhere in his face. Then he chuckled and said, â€Å"Anyway, I guess I'll get used to the eyes soon enough.† â€Å"You will?† I asked, confused. It was wonderful that we were still friends, but it wasn't like we'd be spending much time together. The strangest look crossed his face, erasing the smile. It was almost†¦ guilty? Then his eyes shifted to Edward. â€Å"Thanks,† he said. â€Å"I didn't know if you'd be able to keep it from her, promise or not. Usually, you just give her everything she wants.† â€Å"Maybe I'm hoping she'll get irritated and rip your head off,† Edward suggested. Jacob snorted. â€Å"What's going on? Are you two keeping secrets from me?† I demanded, incredulous. â€Å"I'll explain later,† Jacob said self-consciously – like he didn't really plan on it. Then he changed the subject. â€Å"First, let's get this show on the road.† His grin was a challenge now as he started slowly forward. There was a whine of protest behind him, and then Leah's gray body slid out of the trees behind him. The taller, sandy-colored Seth was right behind her. â€Å"Cool it, guys,† Jacob said. â€Å"Stay out of this.† I was glad they didn't listen to him but only followed after him a little more slowly. The wind was still now; it wouldn't blow his scent away from me. He got close enough that I could feel the heat of his body in the air between us. My throat burned in response. â€Å"C'mon, Bells. Do your worst.† Leah hissed. I didn't want to breathe. It wasn't right to take such dangerous advantage of Jacob, no matter if he was the one offering. But I couldn't get away from the logic. How else could I be sure that I wouldn't hurt Renesmee? Tm getting older here, Bella,† Jacob taunted. â€Å"Okay, not technically, but you get the idea. Go on, take a whiff.† â€Å"Hold on to me,† I said to Edward, cringing back into his chest. His hands tightened on my arms. I locked my muscles in place, hoping I could keep them frozen. I resolved that I would do at least as well as I had on the hunt. Worst-case scenario, I would stop breathing and run for it. Nervously, I took a tiny breath in through my nose, braced for anything. It hurt a little, but my throat was already burning dully anyway. Jacob didn't smell that much more human than the mountain lion. There was an animal edge to his blood that instantly repelled. Though the loud, wet sound of his heart was appealing, the scent that went with it made my nose wrinkle. It was actually easier with the smell to temper my reaction to the sound and heat of his pulsing blood. I took another breath and relaxed. â€Å"Huh. I can see what everyone's been going on about. You stink, Jacob.† Edward burst into laughter; his hands slipped from my shoulders to wrap around my waist. Seth barked a low chortle in harmony with Edward; he came a little closer while Leah retreated several paces. And then I was aware of another audience when I heard Emmett's low, distinct guffaw, muffled a little by the glass wall between us. â€Å"Look who's talking,† Jacob said, theatrically plugging his nose. His face didn't pucker at all while Edward embraced me, not even when Edward composed himself and whispered â€Å"I love you† in my ear. Jacob just kept grinning. This made me feel hopeful that things were going to be right between us, the way they hadn't been for so long now. Maybe now I could truly be his friend, since I disgusted him enough physically that he couldn't love me the same way as before. Maybe that was all that was needed. â€Å"Okay, so I passed, right?† I said. â€Å"Now are you going to tell me what this big secret is?† Jacob's expression became very nervous. â€Å"It's nothing you need to worry about this second___† I heard Emmett chuckle again – a sound of anticipation. I would have pressed my point, but as I listened to Emmett, I heard other sounds, too. Seven people breathing. One set of lungs moving more rapidly than the others. Only one heart fluttering like a bird's wings, light and quick. I was totally diverted. My daughter was just on the other side of that thin wall of glass. I couldn't see her – the light bounced off the reflective windows like a mirror. I could only see myself, looking very strange – so white and still – compared to Jacob. Or, compared to Edward, looking exactly right. â€Å"Renesmee,† I whispered. Stress made me a statue again. Renesmee wasn't going to smell like an animal. Would I put her in danger? â€Å"Come and see,† Edward murmured. â€Å"I know you can handle this.† â€Å"You'll help me?† I whispered through motionless lips. â€Å"Of course I will.† â€Å"And Emmett and Jasper – just in case?† â€Å"We'll take care of you, Bella. Don't worry, we'll be ready. None of us would risk Renesmee. I think you'll be surprised at how entirely she's already wrapped us all around her little fingers. She'll be perfectly safe, no matter what.† My yearning to see her, to understand the worship in his voice, broke my frozen pose. I took a step forward. And then Jacob was in my way, his face a mask of worry. â€Å"Are you sure, bloodsucker?† he demanded of Edward, his voice almost pleading. I'd never heard him speak to Edward that way. â€Å"I don't like this. Maybe she should wait – â€Å" â€Å"You had your test, Jacob.† It was Jacob's test? â€Å"But – ,† Jacob began. â€Å"But nothing,† Edward said, suddenly exasperated. â€Å"Bella needs to see our daughter. Get out of her way.† Jacob shot me an odd, frantic look and then turned and nearly sprinted into the house ahead of us. Edward growled. I couldn't make sense of their confrontation, and I couldn't concentrate on it, either. I could only think about the blurred child in my memory and struggle against the haziness, trying to remember her face exactly. â€Å"Shall we?† Edward said, his voice gentle again. I nodded nervously. He took my hand tightly in his and led the way into the house. They waited for me in a smiling line that was both welcoming and defensive. Rosalie was several paces behind the rest of them, near the front door. She was alone until Jacob joined her and then stood in front of her, closer than was normal. There was no sense of comfort in that closeness; both of them seemed to cringe from the proximity. Someone very small was leaning forward out of Rosalie's arms, peering around Jacob. Immediately, she had my absolute attention, my every thought, the way nothing else had owned them since the moment I'd opened my eyes. â€Å"I was out just two days?† I gasped, disbelieving. The stranger-child in Rosalie's arms had to be weeks, if not months, old. She was maybe twice the size of the baby in my dim memory, and she seemed to be supporting her own torso easily as she stretched toward me.Her shiny bronze-colored hair fell in ringlets past her shoulders. Her chocolate brown eyes examined me with an interest that was not at all childlike; it was adult, aware and intelligent. She raised one hand, reaching in my direction for a moment, and then reached back to touch Rosalie's throat. If her face had not been astonishing in its beauty and perfection, I wouldn't have believed it was the same child. My child. But Edward was there in her features, and I was there in the color of her eyes and cheeks. Even Charlie had a place in her thick curls, though their color matched Edward's. She must be ours. Impossible, but still true. Seeing this unanticipated little person did not make her more real, though. It only made her more fantastic. Rosalie patted the hand against her neck and murmured, â€Å"Yes, that's her.† Renesmee's eyes stayed locked on mine. Then, as she had just seconds after her violent birth, she smiled at me. A brilliant flash of tiny, perfect white teeth. Reeling inside, I took a hesitant step toward her. Everyone moved very fast. Emmett and Jasper were right in front of me, shoulder to shoulder, hands ready. Edward gripped me from behind, fingers tight again on the tops of my arms. Even Carlisle and Esme moved to get Emmett's and Jasper's flanks, while Rosalie backed to the door, her arms clutching at Renesmee. Jacob moved, too, keeping his protective stance in front of them. Alice was the only one who held her place. â€Å"Oh, give her some credit,† she chided them. â€Å"She wasn't going to do anything. You'd want a closer look, too.† Alice was right. I was in control of myself. I'd been braced for anything – for a scent as impossibly insistent as the human smell in the woods. The temptation here was really not comparable. Renesmee's fragrance was perfectly balanced right on the line between the scent of the most beautiful perfume and the scent of the most delicious food. There was enough of the sweet vampire smell to keep the human part from being overwhelming. I could handle it. I was sure. â€Å"I'm okay,† I promised, patting Edward's hand on my arm. Then I hesitated and added, â€Å"Keep close, though, just in case.† Jasper's eyes were tight, focused. I knew he was taking in my emotional climate, and I worked on settling into a steady calm. I felt Edward free my arms as he read Jasper's assessment. But, though Jasper was getting it firsthand, he didn't seem as certain. When she heard my voice, the too-aware child struggled in Rosalie's arms, reaching toward me. Somehow, her expression managed to look impatient. â€Å"Jazz, Em, let us through. Bella's got this.† â€Å"Edward, the risk – ,† Jasper said. â€Å"Minimal. Listen, Jasper – on the hunt she caught the scent of some hikers who were in the wrong place at the wrong time___† I heard Carlisle suck in a shocked breath. Esme's face was suddenly full of concern mingled with compassion. Jasper's eyes widened, but he nodded just a tiny bit, as if Edward's words answered some question in his head. Jacob's mouth screwed up into a disgusted grimace. Emmett shrugged. Rosalie seemed even less concerned than Emmett as she tried to hold on to the struggling child in her arms. Alice's expression told me that she was not fooled. Her narrowed eyes, focused with burning intensity on my borrowed shirt, seemed more worried about what I'd done to my dress than anything else. â€Å"Edward!† Carlisle chastened. â€Å"How could you be so irresponsible?† â€Å"I know, Carlisle, I know. I was just plain stupid. I should have taken the time to make sure we were in a safe zone before I set her loose.† â€Å"Edward,† I mumbled, embarrassed by the way they stared at me. It was like they were trying to see a brighter red in my eyes. â€Å"He's absolutely right to rebuke me, Bella,† Edward said with a grin. â€Å"I made a huge mistake. The fact that you are stronger than anyone I've ever known doesn't change that.† Alice rolled her eyes. â€Å"Tasteful joke, Edward.† â€Å"I wasn't making a joke. I was explaining to Jasper why I know Bella can handle this. It's not my fault everyone jumped to conclusions.† â€Å"Wait,† Jasper gasped. â€Å"She didn't hunt the humans?† â€Å"She started to,† Edward said, clearly enjoying himself. My teeth ground together. â€Å"She was entirely focused on the hunt.† â€Å"What happened?† Carlisle interjected. His eyes were suddenly bright, an amazed smile beginning to form on his face. It reminded me of before, when he'd wanted the details on my transformation experience. The thrill of new information. Edward leaned toward him, animated. â€Å"She heard me behind her and reacted defensively. As soon as my pursuit broke into her concentration, she snapped right out of it. I've never seen anything to equal her. She realized at once what was happening, and then†¦ she held her breath and ran away† â€Å"Whoa,† Emmett murmured. â€Å"Seriously?† â€Å"He's not telling it right,† I muttered, more embarrassed than before. â€Å"He left out the part where I growled at him.† â€Å"Did ya get in a couple of good swipes?† Emmett asked eagerly. â€Å"No! Of course not.† â€Å"No, not really? You really didn't attack him?† â€Å"Emmett!† I protested. â€Å"Aw, what a waste,† Emmett groaned. â€Å"And here you're probably the one person who could take him – since he can't get in your head to cheat – and you had a perfect excuse, too.† He sighed. â€Å"I've been dying to see how he'd do without that advantage.† I glared at him frostily. â€Å"I would never.† Jasper's frown caught my attention; he seemed even more disturbed than before. Edward touched his fist lightly to Jasper's shoulder in a mock punch. â€Å"You see what I mean?† â€Å"It's not natural,† Jasper muttered. â€Å"She could have turned on you – she's only hours old!† Esme scolded, putting her hand against her heart. â€Å"Oh, we should have gone with you.† I wasn't paying so much attention, now that Edward was past the punch line of his joke. I was staring at the gorgeous child by the door, who was still staring at me. Her little dimpled hands reached out toward me like she knew exactly who I was. Automatically, my hand lifted to mimic hers. â€Å"Edward,† I said, leaning around Jasper to see her better. â€Å"Please?† Jasper's teeth were set; he didn't move. â€Å"Jazz, this isn't anything you've seen before,† Alice said quietly. â€Å"Trust me.† Their eyes met for a short second, and then Jasper nodded. He moved out of my way, but put one hand on my shoulder and moved with me as I walked slowly forward. I thought about every step before I took it, analyzing my mood, the burn in my throat, the position of the others around me. How strong I felt versus how well they would be able to contain me. It was a slow procession. And then the child in Rosalie's arms, struggling and reaching all this time while her expression got more and more irritated, let out a high, ringing wail. Everyone reacted as if – like me – they'd never heard her voice before. They swarmed around her in a second, leaving me standing alone, frozen in place. The sound of Renesmee's cry pierced right through me, spearing me to the floor. My eyes pricked in the strangest way, like they wanted to tear. It seemed like everyone had a hand on her, patting and soothing. Everyone but me. â€Å"What's the matter? Is she hurt? What happened?† It was Jacob's voice that was loudest, that raised anxiously above the others. I watched in shock as he reached for Renesmee, and then in utter horror as Rosalie surrendered her to him without a fight. â€Å"No, she's fine,† Rosalie reassured him. Rosalie was reassuring Jacob? Renesmee went to Jacob willingly enough, pushing her tiny hand against his cheek and then squirming around to stretch toward me again. â€Å"See?† Rosalie told him. â€Å"She just wants Bella.† â€Å"She wants me?† I whispered. Renesmee's eyes – my eyes – stared impatiently at me. Edward darted back to my side. He put his hands lightly on my arms and urged me forward. â€Å"She's been waiting for you for almost three days,† he told me. We were only a few feet away from her now. Bursts of heat seemed to tremble out from her to touch me. Or maybe it was Jacob who was trembling. I saw his hands shaking as I got closer. And yet, despite his obvious anxiety, his face was more serene than I had seen it in a long time. â€Å"Jake – I'm fine,† I told him. It made me panicky to see Renesmee in his shaking hands, but I worked to keep myself in control. He frowned at me, eyes tight, like he was just as panicky at the thought of Renesmee in my arms. Renesmee whimpered eagerly and stretched, her little hands grasping into fists again and again. Something in me clicked into place at that moment. The sound of her cry, the familiarity of her eyes, the way she seemed even more impatient than I did for this reunion – all of it wove together into the most natural of patterns as she clutched the air between us. Suddenly, she was absolutely real, and of course I knew her. It was perfectly ordinary that I should take that last easy step and reach for her, putting my hands exactly where they would fit best as I pulled her gently toward me. Jacob let his long arms stretch so that I could cradle her, but he didn't let go. He shuddered a little when our skin touched. His skin, always so warm to me before, felt like an open flame to me now. It was almost the same temperature as Renesmee's. Perhaps one or two degrees difference. Renesmee seemed oblivious to the coolness of my skin, or at least very used to it. She looked up and smiled at me again, showing her square little teeth and two dimples. Then, very deliberately, she reached for my face. The moment she did this, all the hands on me tightened, anticipating my reaction. I barely noticed. I was gasping, stunned and frightened by the strange, alarming image that filled my mind. It felt like a very strong memory – I could still see through my eyes while I watched it in my head – but it was completely unfamiliar. I stared through it to Renesmee's expectant expression, trying to understand what was happening, struggling desperately to hold on to my calm. Besides being shocking and unfamiliar, the image was also wrong somehow – I almost recognized my own face in it, my old face, but it was off, backward. I grasped quickly that I was seeing my face as others saw it, rather than flipped in a reflection. My memory face was twisted, ravaged, covered in sweat and blood. Despite this, my expression in the vision became an adoring smile; my brown eyes glowed over their deep circles. The image enlarged, my face came closer to the unseen vantage point, and then abruptly vanished. Renesmee's hand dropped from my cheek. She smiled wider, dimpling again. It was totally silent in the room but for the heartbeats. No one but Jacob and Renesmee was so much as breathing. The silence stretched on; it seemed like they were waiting for me to say something. â€Å"What†¦ was†¦ that?† I managed to choke out. â€Å"What did you see?† Rosalie asked curiously, leaning around Jacob, who seemed very much in the way and out of place at the moment. â€Å"What did she show you?† â€Å"Srte showed me that?† I whispered. â€Å"I told you it was hard to explain,† Edward murmured in my ear. â€Å"But effective as means of communications go.† â€Å"What was it?† Jacob asked. I blinked quickly several times. â€Å"Um. Me. I think. But I looked terrible.† â€Å"It was the only memory she had of you,† Edward explained. It was obvious he'd seen what she was showing me as she thought of it. He was still cringing, his voice rough from reliving the memory. â€Å"She's letting you know that she's made the connection, that she knows who you are.† â€Å"Butrtowdidshedothat?† Renesmee seemed unconcerned with my boggling eyes. She was smiling slightly and pulling on a lock of my hair. â€Å"How do I hear thoughts? How does Alice see the future?† Edward asked rhetorically, and then shrugged. â€Å"She's gifted.† â€Å"It's an interesting twist,† Carlisle said to Edward. â€Å"Like she's doing the exact opposite of what you can.† â€Å"Interesting,† Edward agreed. â€Å"I wonder___† I knew they were speculating away, but I didn't care. I was staring at the most beautiful face in the world. She was hot in my arms, reminding me of the moment when the blackness had almost won, when there was nothing in the world left to hold on to. Nothing strong enough to pull me through the crushing darkness. The moment when I'd thought of Renesmee and found something I would never let go of. â€Å"I remember you, too,† I told her quietly. It seemed very natural to lean in and press my lips to her forehead. She smelled wonderful. The scent of her skin set my throat burning, but it was easy to ignore. It didn't strip the joy from the moment. Renesmee was real and I knew her. She was the same one I'd fought for from the beginning. My little nudger, the one who loved me from the inside, too. Half Edward, perfect and lovely. And half me – which, surprisingly, made her better rather than detracting. I'd been right all along. She was worth the fight. â€Å"She's fine,† Alice murmured, probably to Jasper. I could feel them hovering, not trusting me. â€Å"Haven't we experimented enough for one day?† Jacob asked, his voice a slightly higher pitch with stress. â€Å"Okay, Bella's doing great, but let's not push it.† I glared at him with real irritation. Jasper shuffled uneasily next to me. We were all crowded so close that every tiny movement seemed very big. â€Å"What is your problem, Jacob?† I demanded. I tugged lightly against his hold on Renesmee, and he just stepped closer to me. He was pressed right up to me, Renesmee touching both of our chests. Edward hissed at him. â€Å"Just because I understand, it doesn't mean I won't throw you out, Jacob. Bella's doing extraordinarily well. Don't ruin the moment for her.† â€Å"I'll help him toss you, dog,† Rosalie promised, her voice seething. â€Å"I owe you a good kick in the gut.† Obviously, there was no change in that relationship, unless it had gotten worse. I glared at Jacob's anxious half-angry expression. His eyes were locked on Renesmee's face. With everyone pressed together, he had to be touching at least six different vampires at the moment, and it didn't even seem to bug him. Would he really go through all this just to protect me from myself? What could have happened during my transformation – my alteration into something he hated – that would soften him so much toward the reason for its necessity? I puzzled over it, watching him stare at my daughter. Staring at her like†¦ like he was a blind man seeing the sun for the very first time. â€Å"No!†I gasped. Jasper's teeth came together and Edward's arms wrapped around my chest like constricting boas. Jacob had Renesmee out of my arms in the same second, and I did not try to hold on to her. Because I felt it coming – the snap that they'd all been waiting for. â€Å"Rose,† I said through my teeth, very slowly and precisely. â€Å"Take Renesmee.† Rosalie held her hands out, and Jacob handed my daughter to her at once. Both of them backed away from me. â€Å"Edward, I don't want to hurt you, so please let go of me.† He hesitated. â€Å"Go stand in front of Renesmee,† I suggested. He deliberated, and then let me go. I leaned into my hunting crouch and took two slow steps forward toward Jacob. â€Å"You didn't,† I snarled at him. He backed away, palms up, trying to reason with me. â€Å"You know it's not something I can control.† â€Å"You stupid mutt How could you? My babyf He backed out the front door now as I stalked him, half-running backward down the stairs. â€Å"It wasn't my idea, Bella!† â€Å"I've held her all of one time, and already you think you have some moronic wolfy claim to her? She's mine† â€Å"I can share,† he said pleadingly as he retreated across the lawn. â€Å"Pay up,† I heard Emmett say behind me. A small part of my brain wondered who had bet against this outcome. I didn't waste much attention on it. I was too furious. â€Å"How dare you imprint on my baby? Have you lost your mind?† â€Å"It was involuntary!† he insisted, backing into the trees. Then he wasn't alone. The two huge wolves reappeared, flanking him on either side. Leah snapped at me. A fearsome snarl ripped through my teeth back at her. The sound disturbed me, but not enough to stop my advance. â€Å"Bella, would you try to listen for just a second? Please?† Jacob begged. â€Å"Leah, back off,† he added. Leah curled her lip at me and didn't move. â€Å"Why should I listen?† I hissed. Fury reigned in my head. It clouded everything else out. â€Å"Because you're the one who told me this. Do you remember? You said we belonged in each other's lives, right? That we were family. You said that was how you and I were supposed to be. So†¦ now we are. It's what you wanted.† I glared ferociously. I did dimly remember those words. But my new quick brain was two steps ahead of his nonsense. â€Å"You think you'll be part of my family as my son-in-lawV I screeched. My bell voice ripped through two octaves and still came out sounding like music. Emmett laughed. â€Å"Stop her, Edward,† Esme murmured. â€Å"She'll be unhappy if she hurts him.† But I felt no pursuit behind me. â€Å"No!† Jacob was insisting at the same time. â€Å"How can you even look at it that way? She's just a baby, for crying out loud!† â€Å"That's mypointl† I yelled. â€Å"You know I don't think of her that way! Do you think Edward would have let me live this long if I did? All I want is for her to be safe and happy – is that so bad? So different from what you want?† He was shouting right back at me. Beyond words, I shrieked a growl at him. â€Å"Amazing, isn't she?† I heard Edward murmur. â€Å"She hasn't gone for his throat even once,† Carlisle agreed, sounding stunned. â€Å"Fine, you win this one,† Emmett said grudgingly. â€Å"You're going to stay away from her,† I hissed up at Jacob. â€Å"I can't do that!† Through my teeth: â€Å"Try. Starting now† â€Å"It's not possible. Do you remember how much you wanted me around three days ago? How hard it was to be apart from each other? That's gone for you now, isn't it?† I glared, not sure what he was implying. â€Å"That was her,† he told me. â€Å"From the very beginning. We had to be together, even then.† I remembered, and then I understood; a tiny part of me was relieved to have the madness explained. But that relief somehow only made me angrier. Was he expecting that to be enough for me? That one little clarification would make me okay with this? â€Å"Run away while you still can,† I threatened. â€Å"C'mon,Bells! Nessie likes me, too,† he insisted. I froze. My breathing stopped. Behind me, I heard the lack of sound that was their anxious reaction. â€Å"What†¦did youcall her?† Jacob took a step farther back, managing to look sheepish. â€Å"Well,† he mumbled, â€Å"that name you came up with is kind of a mouthful and – â€Å" â€Å"You nicknamed my daughter after the Loch Ness Monster?† I screeched. And then I lunged for his throat.